Reading v City: Five club links

We take a look at the connections between the two clubs ahead of Tuesday's Premier League clash...

Shaun Goater

City’s top goalscorer for four consecutive seasons, Shaun Goater spent a prolific five years with the Blues from 1998.

A popular figure at Maine Road, he was named City’s Player of the Year by supporters in 2000, and was voted into the Division One PFA Team of the Year by his fellow pros in 2002 after finishing as the league’s top scorer.

The Bermudan striker scored 103 times for the Blues and captained the side in the last ever game at Maine Road before moving to Reading in August 2003.

Mark Bowen

Former left back Mark Bowen spent a brief period at Reading during the twilight of a playing career which lasted 18 years.

Whilst with the Royals, he began a coaching career when Mark Hughes made him part of his staff as manager of Bowen’s native Wales.

The two would later link up at City, when Hughes appointed him as his assistant manager when taking over following the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Keith Curle

Former City captain Keith Curle spent a year with Reading from 1987 in which he made 40 appearances for the Royals, but was unable to prevent them being relegated to the Second Division.

Two and a half years with Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang followed, before Peter Reid decided he’d seen enough to splash out a hefty £2.5million to secure his services – the joint highest fee paid for a defender at the time.

Curle was with City for five years, making 172 league appearances in sky blue and earning a place in England’s Euro 92 squad during his time with the club.

Stuart Taylor

Current Reading goalkeeper Stuart Taylor spent three years at City, signing in summer 2009.

He made his debut for the Blues in January 2010, taking his place between the posts against Scunthorpe in the FA Cup.

The arrival of Costel Pantilimon saw Taylor drop down the pecking order to third choice, and the former Arsenal stopper departed for Reading last summer.

Dave Bacuzzi

Son of former Fulham defender Joe, Dave Bacuzzi arrived at City in 1964 and made 60 appearances during two years at Maine Road, where he was part of the side that was crowned Second Division champions in 1965.

Finding his playing time at right back decreasing due to the performances of Bobby Kennedy, he left for Reading the following year.

A four year career with the Royals saw Bacuzzi turn out over 100 times for the club, where he scored the only league goal of his career.